Cooling system for internal-combustion engines



April 24, 1928.

J. A. KINNARD co LINe sYsm; FOR INTERNAL couausnorq ENGINES Filed April 14. 1927 Patented M524, 1928.

4 WI ED" S S 1,667,207 PATENT OFFICE- 34118 A. mm, or DETROIT, mm, Assmnon 'ro 'rna IUL'IdN synrnon courm, or moxmm, rnnnnssna, A oonromrronor nmwaaa.

coonme mm; :03 nri'mAL-conus'non enemas Application amu ru 14, 19l l'!. Serial Io. 183,891.

This invention relates to cooling stems for internal combustion. en 'nes, an especially to cooling systems or the internal combustion engines of automobiles.

5 The under-hood construction and design of some makes of automobiles is not such as to enable a thermostatically-operated 'valve mechanism to be'rea'dily installed-in the cooling system without a redesign of the structime. This fact not only retards the adoption of thermostatically-operated valve mechanism as a art of-the initial equipment of such automo iles,,but substantially pre vents the application of thrmostaticallyla operated valve mechanism to cars of this.

character which are already in service.

It is an object of this inventionto rovide tlie cooling system of an internal com ustion engine with thermostatically-o erated valve mechanism which may be initially incorpo= rated in the system, or subsequently applied thereto,- where there is no room for such mechanism in the under-hood construction.

Another object of this inventon is to pro- 71 vide the cooling system ofan -internal combustion engine with a thermostatically-oper- 'ated valve mechanism which does not require any modification of the under-hood construction whether or not there is'room for such mechanism under the hood.

' Another object of this invention is to provide the cooling'system of an internal combustion engine with. thermostatically-open ated valvemechanism which may be incor porated within the confines of the radiator and, if desired, form a unitary part of the radiator-as originally installed. Another object of this invention is to provide the radiator of the cooling system of an 40 internal combustion engine with thermostatirally-operated valve mechanism for determining whether or not the cooling medium shall'flow through said radiator.

Other objects will appear as the description of the invention roceeds.

Stated broadly, the invention comprises in combination with any suitable radiator of a cooling system for aninternal combustion engine, a thermostatically-operated valve no mechanism, preferably of the choker type,

mounted within the filler opening of the radiator and controlling the circulation of the cooling medium through the radiator.

The invention is capable of receiving a 5 variety of mechanical expressions, one of .as the invention can beembodied in any tion', and

F ig. 2 is a section, on an enlarged scale, of an embodiment of the present invention. Referringto Fig. 1, 10 designates any suitable internal combustion engine provided with a Water jacket which communicates; through the upper water line 11, with a radiator 12 of any suitable character. The radiator communicates through conduit 13 with a circulating pump 14 of any suitable character, and said pump communicates with the water jacket t rough the lower water line'15. While this is a conventional form of cooling system commonly employed in automobiles, it is to be expressly understood that it has been selected only for the purposes of exemplification of the present invention,

so other suitable character of water circulating system, as for example, where the thermosiphon principle'of circulation is employed instead of a circulating pump, or where the circulation of water through the radiator is in the opposite direction, or where a by-pass is employed for maintaining the circulation through the water jacket when circulation through the radiator is stopped, although the present invention is preferably employed without a 'by-pass, etc.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 2, the radiator 12 is provided-with the usual vent and overflow pipe 16, and

with an inlet nipple 17 with which communicates the upper water line conduit 11. As usual, theradiator is provided with a filler opening at the top thereof, and in the form shown said filler opening is provided by means of a sleeve 18 suit-ably secured in an opening 19 in the top of the radiator. Said sleeve extends interlorly of the radiator to form a casing for the thermostatically-oper- "ated valve mechanism, as shown, and extends exteriorly of the radiator to form the filler opening 20, 'where it is threaded to receive any suitable filler cap 21, which may also,

' if desired, be pivotally attached to the portion in any suitable way, as is common in the art. Sald sleeve 18 is provided with a .lateral opening 22 in which the inlet nipple 17 is suitably secured, as by solder, and with an end opening 23 which may constitute a valve port'or which may be designed to receive the valve mechanism as hereinafter described. Sai'd sleeve 18 is also shown as pro vided interiorly of the same with a ledge 01'. shoulder 24 to support the valve mechanism,-and with asuitable number of openings 25 so that the radiator may be filled through these openings when the radiator cap 21 is removed; Preferably the openings 25 are located above the support for the thermo statically-operated valve mechanism so that nism is designed to restgon the ledge 24 and is retained thereon against displacement by a suitably shaped extension 26 on the filler cap 21. If desired, however, the thermostatically-operated valve mechanism, may be threaded into the sleeve 18 or mounted therein in any other suitable way. In the form shown, the thermostatically-operated valve mechanism is so constructed as to have a sliding fit in the aperture 23 and the valve port is formed in the "valve mechanism structure, but if desired the valve mechanism may be threaded into the opening 23, or otherwise mounted therein, or the valve mechanism may be so designed as to utilize Giesler, Serial No. 145,340, filed October 30, 1926, for "thermostatically controlled valve mechanism. Said mechanism includes a generally cylindrical housing 27 provided with a plurality of slots or openings in its lateral wall so as to permit free circulation of the cooling mediumtheretln-ough. Said housing at its inner end is provided with an integral valve seat flange 28 in which is formed the valve port 29. Said inner end also carries an integral spider 30 which is formed centrall of the valve port 29 into a hub 31 to gui e the movement of the valve stem 32, and also preferably limit the extent of expansion of the thermostat 33. Said thermostat is shown as formed by a deeplycorrugated, highly-flexible tubular wall,

preferably of resilient metal, provided with a movable end wall 34 to which is suitably end wall of the thermostat, all as fully disa closed in the aforesaid application of Jean V. Giesleralthough it is to be expressly understood that any other suitable form of thermostatically-operated valve' mechanism and mounting structure therefor may be employed if desired. Valvestem 32 has a valve disk 37 suitablyattached thereto, as by a threaded connection, which valve disk is designed to seat on the valve seat provided by the hang-e28 when the thermostat is contracted, and to move away from said seat and open the valve port 29 when the thermostat is expanded, the extent of the expansion being preferably limited by the engagement of an enlargement 38 on the valve stem with the inner end of the hub 31.

lVhen the thermostat is contracted and valve disk 37 is held against its valve seat 28, circulation of cooling medium through the'radiator is prevented, except for such slight circulation as may bemaintained through a suitable bleeder opening in order that the thermostat may be subjected to water of a. temperature proportional to that in the engine jacket. When the water reaches that temperature at which the thermostat is dcsigned'to expand, the valve disk is removed fronrits valve seat by the expansion of said thermostat and circulation is maintained through the cooling system, the pump, in the form shown, withdrawing the cooling medium from the radiator and forcing'the same through the engine jacket and upper water line to the inlet of the radiator, where it may flow through the inlet nipple 17 into the sleeve 18, through the apertures in the housing 27, through the valve port 29, and into the radiator. The extent of circulation is controlled by the extent of opening of the valve, which in turn is determined by the thermostat in its response to the temperature of the cooling medium.

The thermostat is preferably of the volatile fluid type, and may be charged at a pressure belowthat to which it: is normally subjected exteriorly when contracted, so that upon the occurrence of a leak it will expand, owing to its inherent resiliency or the action of a spring thereon, to open the valve port wide and maintain the maximum circulation through the cooling system, or this 0 ening of the valve upon the failure of the t ermostat may. be aided or caused bylthe unbal anced pressure in the cooling water induced by the circulating pump by a suitable design of the valve disk and thermostat areas.

It will therefore be rceived that the thermostatically-opera valve mechanism may be positionedwithinthe filler opening of the radiator, either in the original installation of the radiator or in radiators already 111 service, and this without respect to whether or not the under-hood design is such withoi1t modification of the structure, and

it also enables the use of such mechanism, in systems already in service, without cutting the water line in order to install the valve mechanism.

It will also be observed that the present invention does not interfere with the use of any of the common forms of filler caps, nor (loes'it prevent the use of mechanism of the character commonly installedin the filler opening for indicat' the temperature of the cooling medium," use the openings provided for the admission of water permit access to the filler opening of the heated air or steam which is efiective in causing such indicators to-show the temperature or condition of the cooling 1 While the embodiment of the invention illustrated. on the drawing has been de? scribed with considerable'particuiarity, it is to.be expressly understood that the invention is not restricted thereto, as the same is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions, some ofwhich will now readily bustion engines, mcombination with a radi- 2. In acoolin What is elaimed is: 1. In a cooli system for'internal-cjomator provided with a filler openmg' a thermostaticallyw rated valve anechariism insertible into t e radiator through the filler opening and adapted to determine-the circulation of water through the radiator.

system for internal'combustion engines, in combination with a'radiator provided with a filler opening', a .thermostatically-o' rated valve mechamsm in- 53..-In a bustion en nes, m combination with a idisertible into t e radiator through said filler opening and 'ddapted to, prevent circulation of the cooling medium through said radiator when the cooling medium is below a prede termined'tein rature. a V i system forinternal rcomatorJPmvi ed with a filler a casing within the z: radiator communicating this invention. Referenceis there ore to be-had to-the claims hereto appended for' a definition of said invention.

filler opening ahdwith the inlet to the" radiator, and a thermostatically-operated valve mechanism mounted in said casing and insertible therein through said filler opening for controllin the circulation of cooling medium throug the radiator.

4-. In a coolin system for internal combustion en 'nes, 1n combination with a radiator provi ed with a filler opening, a casing within the radiator communlcating. with said filler opening and with the inlet to the radiator, said casing having an aperture through which the cooling medium from the inlet enters the body of the radiator, and a thermostatically-operated -valve mechanism mounted in said casin and adapted to close below a predetermined temperature. 5. In a eoo'lin system for internal combustion engines, m combination with a radisaid opening when t e cooling medium is ator provided with a filler opening, a casing within said radiator below said filler opening, an inlet for the radiator communicating with the radiator only through said casing, and a thermostatically-operated valve mechanism in said casing insertible, through 'said filler opening and controlling the flow of coolingimediumout of said casing.

6. In a coolin system for internal combustion engines, n combination with a'radiatorprovided with a filler opening, a casmg in said radiator below said filler open- A ing, an'inlet for the radiator communicating therewith only through said casing, said casing having an outlet opening through which 'the cooling medium flows intothe body of the radiator, and a ther--' A mostatically-operated .valve mechanism in said casin msertible through the filler opening an controlling the outflow through said opening. e 1

7. In a cooling system for internal combustion en fnes, in combination with a radiator provided with a filler opening, a casin in said radiator communicatin "with sai filler .openin and with the inlet to the radiator, an a thermostatically -0 rated 'va'lve mechanism insertible throng said filler opening into said casing as a unit and cooperating with said casing. to control the circulation through the radiator, said thermostaticalllyl'joperated valve mechanism ineluding a t e'rmostat, ahousing for. the thermostat providinga' valve seat, and a valve disk connected to said thermostat, and cooperatingwith said valve seat.

8. In. a cooling stem for an internal combustion engine, in combination with a radiator, a sleeve mounted in the top of the radiator and constituting a filler opening therefor, reconnection between said sleeve and the inlet to the radiator, and a thermo staticall operated valve mechanism mounted in saldsleeve and cont tion through said radiator.

rolling the circula- 9. In a cooling system for an internal combustion engine, in combination with a radiator, a sleeve mounted in the top of the radiator and constituting a filler opening therefor, a connection between said sleeve and the inlet to the radiator, said sleeve being provided with an outlet aperture, and a thermostati(rally-operated valve mechanism mounted in said sleeve and controlling the outflow of the cooling medium through said aperture.

'10. In a cooling system for an internal combustion engine, in combination with a radiator, a sleeve mounted in the top of the radiator and constituting a filler. opening therefor, a connection between said sleeve and the inlet to the radiator. said sleeve having apertures through which the body of the radiator communicates with said filler opening, and a thermostatically-operated valve mechanism mounted in said sleeve below said apertures and controlling the circulation of the cooling medium through the radiator.

11; In a cooling system for an internal combustion engine, in combination with a radiator, a sleeve mounted in the top of the radiator and constituting a filler opening therefor, a connection between said sleeve and the inlet to the radiator, said sleeve having an outlet aperture at its inner end and apertures of communication between the body of the radiator and filler opening adjacent its outer end, and a thermostaticallyoperated valve mechanism mounted in said sleeve below said last-named apertures and adapted to control the flow of cooling medium through said first-named aperture.

12. In a cooling system for an internal combustion engine, in combination with a radiator provided with a filler opening, a thermostatically-operated Valve mechanism mounted inthe radiator and insertible as a unit into the radiator through said tiller opening.

13. In a cooling system for an internal combustion engine, in combination with a radiator provlded with a filler opening, a tlie-rmostatlcally-operated valve mechanism mounted in unitary relationship with themostatand cooperating with said seat, said thermostat, housing and valve member constituting a unit readily insertible into the tiller opening of said radiator.

14. In a cooling system for an internal combustion engine, in combination with a radiator having'a filler opening and a filler cap therefor, and a thennostatically-operated valve mechanism mounted in said radiator and insertible through said filler opening, said thermostatically operated valve mechanism being held against displacement by said filler 'cap. i

15. In a cooling system for an internal combustion engine, in combination with a radiator having a filler opening and a filler cap therefor, a casing within the radiator communicating with said filler opening and with the inlet to the radiator, and a ther niostatically-operated valve mechanism insertible into said casing throughsaid filler opening, said casing having means cooperating with said thermostatically-operated valve mechanismfor supporting the same within said casing and said filler cap cooperating with said mechanism to retain the same on its support.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

JAMES'A. KINNARD.

.and a valve member connected to said ther- 

